The Pity Party is Over, & Yes, Short Toothed Mountain Mint is a Spreader

I had too many photos for one post for Foliage Follow-up, so I saved the grooming of the short toothed mountain mint for another day.  It's a good looking plant in all seasons.

I don't know if the birds eat the seeds, but I like the look of them dried.

This is either the 3rd or 4th spring for this plant.  Each spring, there have been attempts at spreading.  I used to think these were stems that had fallen down and taken root, but, I'm thinking they may be actual roots that sprouted on the surface.  I am hoping to continue my diligence in the spring of pulling them up.  It doesn't seem to do that later in the season.  (Added 4/20/11:  I just did some online research, and found out these are rhizomes, which are stems that grow on or under the ground, that have structures so roots can form to make new plants.  That means they are both of my theories at the same time.)

The plants are growing along the roots or stems, whatever they are.

They have a pretty good root system.

Here's the pile of roots/stems I pulled up.  We need to be taking the plants out of this egress window soon.  Once again, I forgot to water them, but if they get a drink soon, they should be OK. 



This clump was growing along the frame for the egress window.  I sure need to keep on top of that!

This was taken after I cut the whole plant back, getting it ready for a new growing season.

 

Yes, my pity party is over.  It's spring, and the new discoveries have started.

A few of the hellebores are blooming, and the others have new growth.  I think this is an 'Orientalis' one.
 

I love to take photos from under the blooms.

This is the 'Yellow Lady'.  Can you see the two buds at the base of the bloom?

The tag showed red splotches on the blooms.  I hope the other blooms on this plant do.

The crocus plants go from invisible under the leaves to full bloom!  This clump by the curb greeted me when I got home from work yesterday.

The hyacinths have greened up and formed flower buds now that the leaves are off of them, and they are getting some sun.

I can't remember what came out of my mouth when I discovered that my lisianthus plants survived the winter, but I greeted them very excitedly, as I have a few other plants when I came across them.  They are grown as annuals here in my zone 5b area.  Now, I'm trying to remember if there have been other years I didn't pull them up before spring.  Maybe they would have overwintered then, too.  I know the snapdragons do most years.
 

I will have to cut back the parts of some of the plants that did not survive.

The first planting of lettuce and such is coming up.

A radish seedling:

Spinach:

Garlic:

A few bachelor button volunteers have come up.

Larkspur:

I am thankful for the freedom to enjoy my gardening and worship as God leads me.  I am following the things going on in other parts of the world, and praying for those involved.